I am planning a first time visit to Vietnam with two other women in September. I am looking for feedback on touring the area, safety concerns and traveling within the country. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Hi, Kim!<BR><BR>My wife and I travelled around Vietnam a couple of years ago, and I can honestly say I have never been in a country where I felt safer. For one thing, there appears to be no such place as a "lonely" area! More importantly, the people are unfailingly helpful, friendly, and gracious. Your only worry here might be theft, if you happened to leave valuables unattended.<BR><BR>There are buses and a north-south "express" train for long-distance travel, but if you happen to be travelling with Vietnam Airlines, have a talk to your travel agent about free internal flights. Because we flew with Vietnam Airlines, they threw in three flights to any centres in Vietnam... we chose Ho Chi Minh - Hanoi - Hue - Ho Chi Minh, and confined ourselves to one-day tours from those centres. It wasn't the most adventurous way to see the country, but it certainly was easy!<BR><BR>If you are starting your journey in Ho Chi Minh City, go straight to Pham Ngu Lao, the street where most of the backpackers find lodging. Not only is it a cheap souvenir area, but there are many travel agents there who will organise both internal and external (Laos, Cambodia) trips for you at prices that will make you glad you didn't book a package tour from home. <BR><BR>Also, while in Ho Chi Minh City, walk (or take a rickshaw) out to Mama Tina's centre for homeless children. We turned up without an appointment, but they were happy to show us around, and it was one of the most uplifting days we have spent anywhere....we came away with an overwhelming compulsion to sell everything at home and throw in our lot with these wonderful people.<BR><BR>As far as cities go, Hanoi beats Ho Chi Minh hands down. It's a very "manageable" city, where you will enjoy just walking and looking at the remains of the French Colonialism era. Try and stay near the Opera House/lake, as this is the centre of the city... Ho Chi Minh, on the other hand, seems like such a big, sprawling place that it is hard to locate the "centre"!<BR><BR>At every step you will be approached by street beggars, selling everything from postcards to bottled mineral water of suspect authenticity. This upsets some of the posters on this board, but I found the hawkers much less insistent and strident than in most places, and their smiles, whether you bought from them or not, seemed very genuine. The lads selling postcards are orphans who carry licences to sell in this manner -- and their prices are far better than the shops, so go for it!<BR><BR>You three are in for a great experience. How I envy you! Good luck!

Alan,<BR><BR>Thank you so much for the info. Since we are still in the planning process, I am full of questions. Hopefully, you may be able to answer some more questions if you don't mind.<BR><BR>Thanks again<BR>Kim

I have been going to V. N. for 40 yrs. and have never been threatend in any form. Pls don't over plan your trip just go and enjoy. The people are wonderful. You will be safe.

kim--<BR><BR>above posters are right. i went to vn for the first time in 1995. after visiting a friend in hanoi i toured the country alone, w/ no plan or hotel reservations save my first nights in hanoi and last nights in saigon. the experience left such a positive impression that i quit my job in hawaii and spent most of the next four yrs in saigon.<BR><BR>u shd do fine, whatever ur level of planning. i have two pieces of advice, which i gave many visiting americans i worked w/ there: 1) carry passport, credit cards, plane tkts and cash in a small pouch u can tuck beneath ur shirt, or in a flat belt u can pin inside ur pants. lots of pickpockets can quickly get into backpacks and fanny packs. these are ok to carry, just don't keep valuables there. keep day cash handy in a pocket and never take it all out in a big wad in public.<BR><BR>2) when crossing streets, look at oncoming traffic and walk slowly and steadily across. traffic will veer around u but will never stop. and don't try to run--this will throw off drivers' timing and is more dangerous. best bet is to look for a vnese person abt to cross and become their shadow.<BR><BR>also, avoid restaurants where waitresses are dressed in traditional costume. these are overpriced tourist traps serving mediocre food they think will appeal to foreigners, and they all serve the same thing--spring rolls, mixed hotpot, noodle stir-frys. look for places where middle-class vnese are pulling over on their motorbikes to eat. these places are usually good, moderately priced (cheap to us), and have better hygiene than other streetside options. and imho street food always tastes the best!

Mari, what great advice! I hope Kim takes note of every word. You're right, the traffic, especially in Ho Chi Minh, can be VERY daunting, but the only way to cross is just to step out, firmly and deliberately, and let them know that you have "claimed" this piece of road. As you say, the traffic will miraculously part around you. It really works, but make sure you have top travel insurance cover just in case!

alan has a good pt abt travel insurance.<BR><BR>i have heard many stories abt foreigners getting wiped out in vn's insane traffic--that's resident expatriates who are usually driving their own motorbikes--or else getting pickpocketed in traffic and injured in the process. i also accompanied a japanese friend who was evacuated to singapore following a collision resulting in a head injury.<BR><BR>medical evacuation planes are not sent to vn unless payment has been made. in my friend's case, her insurance company paid. the nurse who rode in the ambulance w/ us to tan son nhat airport told me each round-trip evacuation flight, complete w/ dr and nurse, cost $16,000-$24,000.<BR><BR>people w/ lighter injuries can travel by regular commercial flights to better medical facilities in singapore or bangkok, but it's still safer to have insurance.